News Headlines for Mackay & the Whitsundays, 21st August 2017

A very sick 47-year-old Filipino crewman aboard a bulk carrier has been airlifted to the Mackay Base Hospital. The RACQ CQ Rescue chopper crew springing into action on Saturday night when the man was suffering severe abdominal pain. The ship was anchored south of Mackay, off Hay Point.

This year's Audi Hamilton Island Race week is attracting Royalty. The future king of Denmark Prince Frederik jumping on board Wild Oats 11 in yesterday's first race. While there are rumours Aussie born royal Princess Mary is also in town. This year's event has attracted 215 entries with yesterday's windy conditions giving them a good wake up.

Its road safety week and our local police are asking motorists to drive with care. Mackay's road toll is currently 9, two down on this time last year. Sergeant Nigel Dalton is reminding us of the fatal five

The Greater Whitsunday Alliance can now get to work with the organisation adopting it's strategic plan this morning. It's replacing the economic development group REDC and the plans been eight months in the making.

Wilmar's Proserpine Mill is full steam ahead, having crushed over 541 thousand tonnes of cane so far. That’s more than 34% of the district's crop.

Cherrie Hughes’ is over the moon after taking out Mackay Tourism’s #mymackay multimedia competition. Her winning entry is a video clip that features a variety of her own photos from across the region. Over 200 people entered the July comp with paintings, fibre arts, sculpture, letters, poetry, photos and more.

 LOCAL SPORT

The Mackay Meteors are into the QBL Finals. Our boys took out the Rockhampton Rockets at home in the Semi Finals on Saturday night, 106 points to 90. Chris Cedar a stand out after scoring some massive plays in the third quarter.

The Mackay Cutters are continuing to impress, even without former Proserpine Junior Shane Wright. The 21 year old making his debut with the Cowboys on Saturday night when they took on the Cronulla Sharks. While out Cutters still managed to take out the Ipswich Jets 30 points to 20.

WEATHER

MACKAY: Cloudy. Medium (40%) chance of light showers. Light winds becoming easterly 20 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening.

WHITSUNDAYS: Partly cloudy. Frost inland in the early morning. Slight (20%) chance of a light shower in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening.

ON THE WATERS: Easterly 15 to 20 knots decreasing to about 10 knots in the evening. Seas 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing below 1 metre around midday. Swell Northeast to southeasterly around 1 metre offshore.

SUNRISE: 6:21AM & SUNSET: 5:51PM